Grain-binder



5 Sheets- -Sheet- 1.

(No Model.)

G. SGI-IUBERT.

GRAIN BINDER.

No. 468,552. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

6'02. Sckwberi ma NORRS PETERS I20 momm'n 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. SOHUBER'T. GRAIN BINDER.

{No Model.)

kw m a (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3'. G. SGHUBERT. GRAIN BINDER a w w A aw ma NuRms Pan: cm, PHOVO-UTNO., WASHINGTON, n. o.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4. G. SGHUBERT.

GRAIN BINDER.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

runs (10., wore-mun msumenw u c THE NORRIS r:

(N0 iiodel.) 5- Sheets-Sheet 5. G. SGHUBERT.

GRAIN. BINDER.

Patented Feb. 9; 11892.

m: mums nuns cm, PunTo-u'ma, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SGHUBERT, OF YVALNUT, TEXAS.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,552, dated February 9, 1892.

I Application filed JuneZO, 1389. Serial No. 315,030. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE SCHUBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Valnut, in the county of Bosque and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Grain- Binder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in grainbinders, and has for its object to provide a machine of this class which can be so constructed as to receive the grain direct from the platform of the reaper without the assistance of elevating mechanism, thereby producing a machine which will be comparatively simple in construction and equally adapted to tie light and heavy gavels, inasmuch as the difficulty of elevating heavy gavels will be entirely obviated.

A further object of this invention is to produce a machine which will tie what is commonly known as a sailors knot, which cannot he slipped apart, may be tied by means of simple mechanism, and is a very superior knot to that tied by the grain-binders in present use.

A further object is to provide binding mechanism which will be in operation only at the time of tying a gavel and will be automatically thrown out of gear as soon as the aforesaid operation has been completed, thus preventing unnecessary wear upon the parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a binder which will compress and bind a large or small gavel perfectly and without any adjustment.

These objects and such others as fairly fall within the scope of the invention I attain by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the peculiar construction, combination, and arrangement of which will be fully described hereinafter, and I the specific points of novelty particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention, showing only so much thereof as is necessary to convey a clear conception of the same. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line ocrrof Fig. 1, showing the platform and lower parts in plan View. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the left-hand side of my invention. Fig. 5

is a vertical sectional view showing the position of the needle-bar and knotter-bar when tying it gavel. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line a of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of opposite sides of the gear-wheel which operates the binding mechanism. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one end of the knotterbar with the knotter in its normal position. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, taken on the line w w of Fig. 9, showing the knotter in plan view. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on the line n o of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the knotter, taken on the line it u of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is asectional view of the same,

taken on the line i t of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a similar view taken on the line 8 s of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the locking device for the knotter, the inclosingplate being removed. Fig. 16 is a view of the needle, showing the point thereof passing the end of the knotter, the needle-bar and knotter-bar being in section. Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the needle in the act of being withdrawn from the knotter-bar. Fig. 18 is an elevation showing the edge and point of the needle. Fig. 19 is a side elevation, slightly enlarged, of the end of the needle. Fig. 20 is a sectional View of the same, showing the point in its normal position. Fig. 21 is asimilar View showing the point withdrawn from the needle. Fig. 22 is a transverse sectional view taken through the end of the needle on the line 1" 1' of Fig. 19, looking in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 23 to 26 are detail views showing the successive positions assumed by the needle and knotter during the process of tying the knot. Fig. 27 is a detail sectional view taken onthe line q q of Fig. 1.

Similar letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views.

1 designates the platform, and 2 3 lateral extensions thereof, which may be formed of angle-irons or other suitable pieces. The platform 1 is provided with a finger-bar 4Qupon its front edge, as is usual in this class of machines. Upon the platform 1 and the extensions 2 8 are mounted the operating parts of the machine.

The frame of the platform 1 is composed of the beams 5 5 5 and 6, to the opposite sides of which are secured the top and bottom 7 and 8. Three uprights 9, 10, and 11 are secured to the extensions 2 3 and are braced by a horizontal beam 12, connecting the upper ends of the uprights 9 10, and by similar beams 13 and 14, which connect the uprights 10 and 11. The beam 13 extends from the upright 10 over the upright 11 to the rear of the machine. Upon the rear end of the beam 13 is secured one end of a beam 15, the opposite end thereof being supported by a diagonal brace 16, and the rear end of the beam 13 is supported by a diagonal brace 17. A flat guard-piece 18, which acts also as a brace, is secured to the ends of the extensions 2 3 and the brace 16.

The aforesaid uprights, beams, and braces form, theframe which carries the operating mechanism of my invention.

Two shafts 19 and 20 extend from front to rear, of theframe and have their bearings in the boxes21 21 and 22 22 upon the beams 12 and of the. frame. Upon the shaft 19 is mounted the needle-bar 23, which carries the needle 24, andon the shaft are mounted the discharging-arms 25.

Upon the front-edge of the platform 1 is securedan upright 26, which is inclined forward and has a spindle. 27 extending in an upwardly-inclined direction fromits upper end.- A convex disk 28 is loosely mountedtends toward the left-hand side of the frame,

slightly i nclinedbackwardly and downwardly, having its outer end secured to the beam 14. A bracket30 connects the inner end .of the beam 29 to the upright 26, thereby bracing the.

same. A guard-board 29 is placed between the inner end of the beam 29 and the platform 1 to prevent the grain from getting into the operating parts of the machinery. A shaft 31 is mounted at one end in a journal-box 32 uponthebeain 29 and at its opposite end in a bracket 33, secured to the side of the upright 10. Upon the shaft 31 is mounted a .bevel gear-wheel 34, the peculiar construction of which is more clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and will be described fully hereinafter.

A shaft 35 is journaled at one end in the upper end of the upright 26 and at its opposite end in a journal-box 36 upon the beam 14. Saidshaft 35 carries four bevel-gears 37, 38, 39, and 40, one of which 38 meshes with the teeth on the convex disk 28, and another 39 meshes with the bevel gear-wheel 34. The bevel-pinion 40 on the outer end of the shaft 35 is adapted to be driven from the carryingwheel of the machine through suitable mechanism, (not shown in the drawings,) and thus impart motion to theoperating parts of the binder.

The shaft 35 is situated below the shaft 31,

as shown in Fig. 7, and the teeth upon the wheel 34 are inclined, as shown in the same figure, to properly mesh with the pinion 39. A blank or space without teeth 41 is left in the bevel portion of the said wheel 34, in which the bevel-pinion 29 may revolve without affectin g the gear-wheel 34. A raised ring or annulus 42 is secured to or formed integral with the bevel gear-wheel 34 on the opposite side to the inclined gear-teeth, as shown in Fig. 8, said ring having gear teeth 43, extending about two-thirds round its periphery, with which mesh the teeth on the gear-pinion 44, carried by a crank-shaft 45, the said pinion 44 being provided with a blank 46, which as the pinion revolves will come opposite to the blank 47 on the ring 42 and thus causethe rotation of the pinion to cease until the blank 47 upon.the-ring 42 has passed the blank 46 upon the pinion.

The crank-shaft has two cranks 48 and 49, and to the inner crank 48 is connected'a pitman 50, which connects at its opposite end with a crank-arm 51, secured to the shaft 19, which carries the needle-bar. It will thus be seen thatiwhen the crank-shaft 45 is revolved the pitman 50 will act with the crank-arm to turn the shaft 19 and thus oscillate the needle-bar 23.

A shaft 52 isjournaledin and passes through the beams 5 5 of the platforml and carries 52 and carries two sprocket-wheels 57 and- 58 and a bevel-gear 59.

In the top 7 of theplatform l are formed two slots 60 60,oneabove each of the sprocket-wheels 57 and 58, the said slots being of the proper size and shape for a suitable conveyer 61 to travel in, the sprocket-chain 62 of which passes over one of the sprocket-wheels 57 on the shaft 56 and over a similar sprocket-. wheel (not shown in the drawings) at theopposite end of the platform 1.

The conveyer used in this invention may be any suitable form of reciprocating conveyer; but I have shown in the drawings and prefer to use such a conveyor as that shown and dedescribed in my former application'filed May 5, 1888, and patented February 17, 1891, No. 446,473, as that form is more especially adapted to the present invention.

Two slots 63 63 are made in the top 70f the IIO platform 1 adjacent to and parallel with the in which the position of the knotter-bar and conveyer may be changed when necessary as, for instance, should the grain be very tall the conveyer and knotter-bar may be moved into the rear slots and 63 in order to bind near the center ofthe gavel. This, however, will seldom be necessary, as the position shown in the drawingsz'. e., in the forward slotswill answer for all ordinary work. The above transposition of parts is accomplished by loosening the set-screw 64:, which binds the knotter-bar 54 upon the shaft 52, and moving the said knotter-bar along the said shaft until the proper position opposite the rear slot 63 is reached, as will be obvious. The chain of the conveyer may be removed from the sprocket-wheel 57 and placedupon the sprocket-wheel 58 in the rear slot 60. The needle-bar and mechanism attached thereto may be moved along the shafts 19 and 20 to correspond with the position of the knotterbar, as will be readily understood.

65 designates a bracket having two downwardly-projectin g arms 66 66, in the lower ends of which is journaled the end of the shaft 56 in such position that the bevel gearwheel 59 is situated between the downwardlyprojecting arms 66. A shaft 67 has its lower end journaled in the upper. portion of the bracket, 65 and has a gear-pinion 68 at its lower extremity, which meshes with the gearwheel 59, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6. A collar 69 is secured in any suitable manner upon the shaft 67 to bear upon the upper surface of the bracket 65 and support the shaft 67. The said shaft 67 is slightlyinclined from the vertical position and is supported at its upper end ina bearing formed in an arm 70, pivoted to the lower side of the beam 29. A bevel gear-wheel71 is rigidly fixed to'the upper end of the shaft 67, above the arm 70, and is situated between the two gear-wheels 37 and 38 upon the shaft 35.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen that if the arm 70 be moved about its pivot it will move the upper end of the shaft 67 and with it the gear-wheel 71, the bracket 65 turning upon the shaft 56, thereby permitting the gear-wheel 71 to be brought into gear with either of the bevel gear-wheels 37 or 38. The normal position of the gear-wheel 71 is between the gear-wheels 87 and 88, but notin contact with either.

A rod 72, having a shoulder 73, is arranged through an opening in the extremity of the arm 70, the shoulder 78 resting against one side of the said arm. The outer end of the rod 72 passes through an opening in the lower end of a lever 74, pivoted upon a block 75, upon the front of the upright 9, which block 7 5'also forms a third bearing for the shaft 35. The lower end of the lever 74 rests against a shoulder 76, formed upon the rod 72, and the upper end of the said lever is connected by a rod 77 with a suitable handle, (not shown in the drawings,) by means of which the said lever may be operated to force the gear-wheel 71 into mesh with the gear-wheel 37, as will be readily understood. The inner end of the rod 72 passes through an eye in the upper end of a lever 78, pivoted upon a stud 79, projecting inwardly from the upright 26, and the extremity of the said rod 72 is screw-threaded to receive a nut 80. A coiledspring 81 isplaced upon the said rod, one end of which spring bears against the end of the arm 70 and the opposite side against the eye of the lever 78, so that when the upper end of the said lever 78 is moved toward the arm 70 it will cause the spring 81 to bear against the said arm, thereby forcing it and the rod 72 outwardly and bringing the gear-wheel 71 into mesh with the gear-wheel 38 upon the shaft 35, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the said gear-wheel 71, the shaft 67, and the mechanism operated thereby.

A lever 82 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) is pivoted between the top and bottom of the platform 1, the forward longer arm of which extends beyond the front of the said platform and hasan eye formed thereon through which the lower end of the lever 78 passes, the rear shorter arm of the lever 82 extending backward into the slot 60 in the path of the conveyer 61. A lever 83 is pivoted in the said platform 1, near the right-hand side thereof, the longer arm of the said lever83 extending into the slot 60 and the shorter arm being connected by a rod 81 with the longer arm of the lever 82, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. From this construction it will be understood that if the lever 74 be moved by hand to force the bevel gear-wheel 71 into engagement with the bevel gear-wheel 37, as shown in Fig. 1, the effect will be to cause the shaft 67 and gear-wheel 68 to rotate and impart rotary motion to the gear-Wheel 59 and shaft 56 and sprocket-wheels 57 and 58, which will operate the sprocket-chain 62 to cause the conveyer 61 to travel toward the binding mechanism,which it will continue to do until it comes in contact with the inner end of the lever 82, and move the said lever a short dis tance. The effect of this movement upon the shorter arm of the lever 82 will be to cause the longer arm of said lever, to which is attached the lower short. arm of the lever 7 8, to move a greater distance than the shorter arm of the lever 82 and in an opposite direction. This movement will impart movement to the lever 78, causing the upper longer arm thereof to move against the tension of the spring 81 toward the arm 70, first compressing the said spring, which will react upon the arm 70 to force the latter to turn upon its pivot, thus carrying the gear-wheel 71 into engagement with the gear-wheel 38. It will thus be seen that a very shortmovcment of the rear end of the lever 82 will cause considerable movement of the upper end of the lever 78, and this movement, assisted by the spring 81,will carry the wheel 71 from the wheel 37 to the wheel 38. 78 be too great, it will simply compress the Should the movement of the lever spring 81 anddo no damage. Vhen the gearwheel .71 passes into engagement with the gear-Wheel 38, the direction of rotation of the shaft 67 and the shaft 56 will be reversed, thereby moving the conveyer in the opposite direction and returning it to the right-hand side of the platform. When the conveyer has reached the extremity of its return movement, it will come in contact with the rear much farther in order to move the wheel 71 pivoted to the needle 24.

a given distance. Thus it will be seen that after the gear-wheel 71 has left the gear-wheel 38 the movement of the conveyer willcease before the lever 83 has been moved far enough to carry thegear-wheel 71 into engagement with the gear-wheel 37, and the spring 81 will act to prevent the gear-wheel 71 from being thrown over into engagement with the said gear-wheel 37. conveyer will be stopped. The relation of the movement of the conveyer to the operation of the binding mechanism will be explained hereinafter.

The raised ring 42 upon the front side of the bevel gear-wheel 34 has upon the face thereof anuinber of teeth 85 extending about one-quarter around the said ring. A bevelpinion 86, having a corresponding number of teeth and a blank 86, is mounted upon'a shaft 87, having the lower end journaled in the bracket 33 upon the upright 10. The position ofthe bevel-pinion 86 is such that it will be close tothe face of the ring 42 and engaged'by the teeth 85 upon the said ring as the gear-wheel34 revolves,andduringone-quarter of therevolution of thegear-wheel 34thepinion 86 will makeonecomplete revolution, and after the teeth 85 have passed the said pinion will stop and remain with the blank 86" next to the plain surface of the ring 42 during the remain in g three-fourths of the revolution of the gearwheel 34. A crank-arm 89 is formed upon the upper end of the shaft 87, and a pitman 90 is connected therewith byaball-and-socket joint 90, said pitman 90 extending over the needle-bar 23 and havingtwo perforations 90 and 90. A crank-shaft 91 is mounted in suitable bearings 91 upon the needle-bar23, having at one end a crank-arm 91 which is pivoted in the opening 90 of the pitman 90, and at its opposite end a crank-arm 91, longer than the crank-arm 91", to which is pivoted one end of a link 92, having its opposite end By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that by this construction each rotation-of the pinion S6 and shaft 87 will oscillate the needle 24. The needle 24 is pivoted in a recess 23 in the Thus the movement of the.

needle-bar 23 and is curved, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the link 92 being pivoted to the highest point 92 of the curve of the said needle. A cylindrical recess 93 (more clearly shown in Figs. 20 and 21) is formed in the lower end of the said needle 24, and the outer end of the said recess is reduced, as shown at 93. The needle 24 is provided with a point 94, which is cone-shaped and approximately round having a notch 94. (See Figs. 18 and 19.) The said point 94 is secured eccentrically upon the end of a round shank 95, which passes in through the reduced portion 93 of the opening 93 and has a fiat pin 95 passed through the inner end thereof. The said pin 95 is slightly longer than the diameter of the opening 93, and one end thereof is ar-' ranged to slide in a spiral groove 93*, formed in the inner surface of the opening 93. Thus it will be seen that as the point 94 is withdrawn the end of the pin95, traveling in the spiral groove 93 will impart a partial rotation to the shank 95, carrying the point 94. A coiled spring 96 is arranged upon the shank 95 and bears at one end against the shoulder 93, formed by the reduction of the outer end of the opening 93, and at its opposite end against the pin 95 in the end of the shank 95. The said spring 96 serves to keep the shank 95 normally drawn Within the opening 93 and the point 94 close to the end of the needle, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. The needle-point 94 is further provided with a pair of points 94 ,which project toward the end of the needle and when in the normal position rest in contact with a lug 24, formed upon the inner side of the end of the needle. Upon the right-hand side of the needle, near the end thereof, are formed a pair of gearteeth 24 and at a point about midway between the end of the needle and the point 92 are formed a similar pair of gear-teeth 24 upon the same side of the needle. Upon the opposite or left-hand side of the needle, slightly in advance of the teeth 24, is formed a stud 24, which is inclined backward or IIC away from the point of the needle, as shown in Fig. 18. The purpose of this construction of needle will be explained hereinafter.

The knotter-bar 54 is mounted at one end upon the shaft 52 and is curved upwardly, as at 54, to clear the shaft 56, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 5. The free end of the said knotter-bar is V-shaped, as shown at 54 in Fig. 10, to fit the correspondinglyshaped end of the needle-bar when in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, and the said needle-bar is cut away upon the upper side to form a depression 54, and is also provided with a recess 54 in the upper side adjacent to the depression 54. A guard 54 is secured upon the upper side of the said needle-bar and extends over the recess 54, said guard being provided with a depending lug 54 A short rearwardly-inclined hook 54 depends from the lug 54 of the guard 54, and a curved knife 54$ having a cuttingedge 54 on the inside of thecurve, is pivoted at its upper end to the said lug 54". The normal position of the said knife is as shown in Fig. 11, its free end resting upon the knotter-bar 54:; but it may be raised, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The knotter is secured upon the end of a shaft 98, which passes through the recess 54 and has bearings on each'side thereof in the knotter-bar, as shown in Fig. 10. This shaft 98 may be inclined upwardly at its outer end to cause the knotter to press deeper into the gavel to catch the twine, if found desirable to do so in practice. The said knotter consists of a shell 97, through which the shaft 98 passes. Two jaws 97 97 are pivoted in the open end of the shell 97 upon a pin 97 which passes therethrough, the said jaws having lugs 97, through which the said pin passes. Lips 97 are formed upon the inner sides of the lugs 97, and a spring 97 is coiled around the shaft 98 and arranged so that its ends will press against the lips 97 and serve to keep the jaws 97 closed, as shown in Fig. 12. Upon one side of the shell 97 is secured a narrow plate 97, the outer end of which is bent into the open end of the shell 97, where it is formed into an eye in which is pivoted a short lever 97, which extends out between the front edges of the jaws 97, where it is bent, as shown in Fig. 13. Upon the said lever 97 are mounted two rollers a and b, which travel in recesses 0, cut in the said jaws. Within the recesses c are formed two inclined bearing-surfaces d and e, the bearingsurface 01 being in the upper jaw for the inner roller a to travel upon and the surface 6 in the lower jaw for the outer roller Z) to travel upon. By inspection of Figs. 13 and 14 it will be understood that if the lever 97 be moved in the direction of the arrow the rollers a and b, traveling upon the inclined surfaces cl and e, will cause the jaws 97 to open, and when the said lever is released the spring 97 will force the said jaws together and return the said lever to its normal position.

Upon the shaft 98, within the recess 54:, is

ablock 98, the upper side of which is re cessed, as at 98 A belfcrauk lever 98 is pivoted at a point f within the said recess and has pivoted to one end thereof a bolt 98, which extends through one end of the said block 98 into one end of the recess 54:, thus locking the block, shaft 98, and knotter in their normal position. Upon the other arm of the bell-crank lever 98 is a stud h, which projects upwardly through a slot 2' in the inclosing plate 98. Acireular washer j (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10) is pivoted at a pointy" to the under side of the plate 98 and serves to close the slot i. A slot 7' is formed in the washer j, through which the stud h projects. The block 98 is provided with two or more longitudinal gear-teeth h, which are engaged by the teeth 24 and 24 of the needle to turn the shaft 98 and the knotter at the proper times during the operation of the machine, as will be hereinafter explained.

A spring 7a, which is coiled at one end and secured to one side of the knotter-bar beneath the knotter, extends in a curved direction along the said knotter and terminates at the edges of the jaws adjacent to the lever 97. The free end of the said spring is flattened and notched, as at in, and when the knotter is turned over the said end it of the spring rides in a groove 76 in the shell 97 and the lower jaw 97 of the said knotter. The shell 97 is further provided with two studs k projecting therefrom on opposite sides of the grooves 7.0 The purpose of the said spring and studs will be explained hereinafterJ A compressor-bar 99 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 19, close to one side of the needle-bar, and is divided just below the said needle-bar into two compressor-fingers 99, which extend downwardly and are curved forwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. Projecting upwardly from the rear end of the needlebar is a standard or arm 101, to the upper end of which is pivoted a link 102, connecting the said arm with a similar arm 103, mounted loosely upon the shaft 20. The outer end of the link 102 is bifurcated to receive the upper end of the arm 103. A rod 104 is pivoted at one end between the arms,

99 at the point 9'9 near their upper ends, and the said rod extends upwardly through the slot formed by the bifurcation of the link 102 and has screw-threads upon its extremity to receive a not 105. placed around the rod 104 and bears at its lower 'end against the fingers 99 and at its upper end against a washer m, which is disposed around the said rod and against the under side of the link 102, and serves to press the fingers 99 against the gavel when the needle-bar descends, as shown in Fig. 5. A compressor 107 is arranged to act between the fingers 99 and assist in compressing the gavel when the needle-bar and knotter-bar come together, as shown in Fig 5. The said compressor 107 is formed with an eye 108 at its upper end, which slides upon a guide-rod 23 upon one side of the needle-bar, and the said compressor is further provided with an arm 109, the end of which is pivoted upon the pin 99, passing through the fingers 99. From inspection of the figure it will be seen that as the fingers 99 turn about the shaft 19 and move the arm 109 outwardly and upwardly and the needle-bar rises to its normal position the eye 108 will slide along the guide-rod 23 toward the shaft 19 and thus move the compressor 107 out of the Way of the sheaf, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The shafts 19 and 20 are braced by abar 110, journaled at each end upon one of the said shafts, near the center thereof, close to the needle-bar.

When it is desired to adjust the machine for binding very long grain, as hereinbefore IOO A coil-spring l06is V IIO explained in relation to the knotter-bar, the needle-bar, the compressing devices, and the brace 110 may be moved rearwardly along the shafts 19 and 20 and secured in the proper position with relation to the knotter-bar, the crank-arms 91 being moved to the opening 90 in the pitman 90. The discharging-fingers 25 are rigidly secured to the shaft 20 by means of the perforated heads 112 112 and the set screws 113 113. The shaft 20 extends through the front bearing 22 and has secured to the forward end thereof a lever N, having oppositely-extending arms 12 n. A depending rod n is pivoted to the end of the arm n and hangs between the bracket 33 and the annulus 42 upon thegear-wheel 34. Thelower end of the said rod 91 is bent inwardly, as at a and extends within the annulus 42, as shown in Fig. 27. A cam 42 is formed 011 the interior of the annulus 42, and as thegear-wheel 34, to which it is attached, revolves in the direction of the arrow 0 (see Fig. 1) the said cam 42 will engage the end 71, of the rod 71 and carry it around for a short distance, thus pulling the arm n of the lever Ndownwardly and turning the shaft 20 to depress the discharging-fingers 25, as will be readily under- Stood. The forward end of the cam 42 is straight and extends from the ann ulus toward the center of the gear-wheel. (See Fig. 8.) Thus the front of the said cam is in proper position to engage the hook n of the rod 02 when it makes contact therewith at the upper part of the annulus; but as the cam 42 descends and the front thereof passes below the center of the wheel it will become so inclined upwardly as to allow the hook n to slip therefrom. WVhen this takes place, the shaft 20 and mechanism attached thereto will be returned'to their normal positions by the coil-spring 114, one end of which is attached to the end of the arm n of the lever N and the other end attached to a bracket 115 upon the frame of the machine. All inclined lug 33 is secured to the lower side of the bracket 33 and extends into the path of the rod n to cause the said rod to slip from the cam at the right moment of time.

A board 116 is hinged upon the top 7 of the platform 1 and in a bracket 117, secured to the end of the beam 29, and has pivoted to its rear side a link 118, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the forward arm of a lever 119, pivoted at a suitable point in the platform 1. The rear end of the lever 119 extends into the path of the conveyer 61 to be operated thereby.

Upon the front of the board 116 is a standard 120, to the end of which is pivoted a link 121, connected at its opposite end with a rod 122, which extends through suitable bearings to the gear-wheel 34. The extreme end of the rod 122 is hooked, as shown at 123 in Fig. 7, and is situated in close proximity to the face of the gear-wheel 34, slightly below the center thereof. A short stud 124 projects from the face of, the-said gear-wheel in proper position to pass into and be held by-the hook 123 of the rod 122,and thus stop "the said gear-wheel, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

A sprocket-wheel 28 is secured upon the top of the convex disk 28, from which may be operated the reel R through the medium of the sprocket-wheel R and the chain 28 arranged to run over suitable guides.

Then the conveyer and binding mechanism are moved rearwardly to accommodate the machine to the binding of long grain,the conveyor is placed in the rear slot -in the platform, and bell-crank levers 82, 83, and 83 are pivoted in the platform,with one arm extending into the slot 60 into the path of the conveyer to be operated thereby. The other arms of the bell-crank levers 82, 83, and 83 are connected by the rods 82,-S3", and 83 with the levers S2, 83, and 119, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the parts are in their initial position. the conveyer is at the extreme righthand side of the platform and the knotterbar depressed within the slot 63 of the top 7 thereof, but not at its lowest point, the needle-bar being raised to its highest point, and the gear-wheel 34 is held from movement by the hook 123 of the rod 122, engaging the stud 124 upon the said gear-wheel. At this time the pinion 39 is free to revolve in the blank 41 without imparting motion to the gear- Wheel 34, the shaft 35 being driven by suitable mechanism connecting the gear-wheel 40 with the driving-wheel of the machine. Thus it will be seen that while the machine is reaping the binding mechanism remains at rest. The twine P passes from the twine-box I (which may be situated on top of one of the uprights 9 10 or other convenient place) through eyes 19 upon the standard 9 and the guard-board 29,beneath the said guard-board, under the shaft 56, and through one of a series of holes in one of the beams 5 of the platform 1 to the knotter-bar, through which it passes at a suitable point. The twine is then carried along the side of the knotter-bar to the guard 54 and, passing through a hole p therein, extends under the guard, as at 17 then up through the guard, as at 19 and returning through the guards, as at 19 makes a loop 19 under the knotter, as shown in Fig. 9, and is then passed up to the needle 24 and secured beneath the point 94, where it is held in position by the points 94", which press thereon by the tension of the spring 96. Thus the twine is extended from the knotter to the point of the needle. As the grain is cut in the usual manner it is laid upon the platform 1 by the reel R over the slot 60, in which moves the conveyer. When a sufficient quantity of grain has accumulated, the operator pulls upon the rod 77, thereby operating the lever 74 and rod 72 to bring the gear-wheel 71 into gear with the gear-Wheel 37 upon the shaft 35, thus starting the shaft IOC IIO

67, which through the gear-wheels 68 and 69 rotates the shaft 56, carrying the sprocketwheels 57 and 58, over one of which passes the conveyer-chain 62. Thus the conveyer 61 is caused to travel toward the binding mechanism, carrying with it the grain which is then upon the platform. As the conveyer moves onward it comes in contact with the inner end of the lever 119, which extends into the slot 60, and moves that end to the left, thus moving the forward end to the right, which operates through the link 118 to move the hinged board 116 inwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The board 116 is designed to strike the butts of the grain and bring them all up even. When the said board is moved up by the conveyor, it operates through the standard 120 and the link 121 to pull the rod 122 to the right and thus turn the gear-wheel 34, by means of the stud 124, far enough to bring the teeth of the said gearwheel into engagement with the pinion 39, thus causing the wheel 34 to rotate. By reference to Fig. 7 it will be seen that when the hook 123 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines the stud 124 will be free to move out of the said hook when the wheel is rotated in the direction of the arrow. The gear-wheel 34 imparts motion to the pinion 44, thus turning the crank shank 45, the crank 48 of which operates the needle bar and is arranged slightly in advance of the crank 49, which operates the knotter-bar. Thus the needlebar will begin to descendimmediately; but the knotter-bar will first move to the lowest extremity of its movement and then begin to ascend, thus giving the conveyer time to deliver the grain upon the knotter-bar before the lattor rises through the top of the platform. The grain is delivered against the twine, which it presses backward as it passes upon the k notter-bar, thus beginning the formation of a loop 13, which as the needle descends encircles the gavel, as will be readily understood. As the conve'yer nears the end of its left-hand movement, having passed the lever 119, and the latter having sprung far enough back by the elasticity of its connections to be again within the path of the conveyer, the latter comes in contact with the inner end of the lever 82. As has been hereinbefore explained, a very small movement of the inner end of the lever 82 is sufficient to throw the gear-wheel 71 from the gear-wheel 37into engagem cut with the gear-wheel 38. Thus when the conveyer strikes the lever 82 the rotation of the shafts (37 and 56 will be reversed and the conveyer will begin its right-hand move ment in time to move out of the Way of the knotte'r-bar as the latter rises. The conveyer will now continue its right-hand movement, coming in contact, first, with the lever 119, which restores the board 116 and the mechanism attached thereto to their normal positions, and, finally, at the end of its movement moving the lever 83 to throw the gearwheel 71 out ofengagement with the wheel 38 and thus stop the movement of the conveycr. The knotter-bar will continue to rise, carrying with it the gavel until it is met by the needle-bar. By reason of the needle-bar traveling slightly in advance of the knotterbar the needle will pass down above the knotter, as shown in Fig. 23, thus forming the loop 1), which encircles the guard. As the needlebar descends the arm 101 thereof operates the link 102 to cause the fingers 99 and the compressor 107 to act upon the gavel to compress the same. Vhen the needle-bar reaches its lowest point, it is met by the knotter-bar and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 5'i. e., the point of the needle in position to enter the guard 54 The guards 125 upon the ends of the needle-bar are for the purpose of warding off any grain which might become entangled in the knotting mechanism. When the parts have assumed the position shown in Fig. 5, the blank 46 on the pinion 44 will have arrived opposite to the blank 47 on the annulus 42, and thus the pinion 44 and the needle and knotter bars will stop. The gear-wheel 34, however, will continue its rotation, and the teeth 85 upon the face of the annulus 42 will engage the pinion 86 and thus rotate the shaft 87,which will act through the pitman 90 to cause one oscillation of the crank-shaft 91, which through the medium of the link 92 will cause one oscillation of the needle, the effect of which is as follows: The needle-point 94, carrying the end of the twine, will enter the guard 54 and strike the stud 7b, which projects through thetop plate of the block 98, as shown in Fig. 5, pressing the stud h round in the slot 2', thereby first withdrawing the locking-bolt 98 and then turning the block 98 and the shaft 98 until the stud 7L turns below the line of the needle-point. By thus turning the teeth It upon the said block have been turned up into engagement with the teeth 24 upon the needle, which as the needle passes on will turn the block 98, the shaft 98, and the knotter over, as shown in Figs. 16 and 25. Before the needle enters the guard the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 24, the loopp of the IIO twine encircling the gavel, the parts p 138 be ing crossed upon the knotter and the end p held by the needle-point. As the needle-point enters the guard 54 it carries the end 17" of the twine under the part 11 and through the guard, and as the knotter turns over it carries the parts 13 and 13 over with it. Thus the part 19* and the end of the twine are carried beneath the lug 54 of the guard, striking the back of the knife and raising it. These parts of the twine pass freely through beneath the hook 54 the knife dropping back into place afterward. The end of the needle will carry the twine on until the point 94 strikes the end of the lever 97", which projects from the jaws 97 of the knotter, as shown in Fig. 16, pressing the said lever around upon its pivotal point, causing the rollers a and b to roll upon the inclined surfaces d and e to open the jaws 97. The end of the twine is at this time in position to pass between the said jaws, after which the point of the needle passes by the end of the lever, thus allowing the spring 97 to close the jaws upon the twine and hold it while the needle-point goes 011. Thus the twine will be pulled from the point of the needle and held in the jaws of the knotter, as shown in Fig. 25. As the knotter turns over the end of the spring It moves downward in the groove 71: passing under the loop p of the twine, the studs preventing the twine from being carried downward by the end of the spring. The needle continues its movement until the teeth 24 thereon have passed the block 98. When the needle begins its return movement, the teeth 24 will engage the teeth h and turn the block 98" and the knotter back to their normal positions. As the knotter turns back, the notched end 70' of the spring 70 will pass upward in the groove 70 and engage the loop 13" of the twine, thus stripping it from the knotter, which is equivalent to pulling the end of the twine through the loops formed about the knotter, thus forming the knot. As the knotter comes over, the part p of the twine will be caught by the hook 54, which projects downwardly and rearwardly from the outer part of the lug 54 thus preventing thetwine from being cut by the knife at this stage of the operation. As the needle returns through the guard 54 the stud 24 thereon engages the part 19 of the twine, which hangs under the said'guard, and draws it out, as shown at p in Fig. 26, thus taking up the slack and drawing the knot nearly tight. When the point of the needle passes through the guard 54 the lug 24 thereof will pass over the stud 7L, as shown in Fig. 22; but the back of the point 94 of the needle will impinge against the stud h, thus drawing the said stud around in the slot 1' to project the bolt 98 and thus lock the block 98 in its normal position. WVhen the stud h can move no farther, the needle, continuing to move, will draw the point 94 out, as shown in Fig. 17, thus allowing the part 13 of the twine, which at this time rests upon the end of the needle, to fall in between the point 94 and the end of the needle. As the point 94 is drawn out the pin 95 in the shank thereof, traveling in the spiral groove 93 will impart a rotary motion to the said point, thus turning it in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 18 until the notch 94 passes over the stud h, allowing the point 94 to be withdrawn into the end of the needle by the spring 96 and causing the said point 94 to catch the twinebetween the points 94 thereof and the end of the needle. As the point 94 is drawn into the end of the needle it is turned by the pin 95, traveling in the spiral groove 93", and the points 94 between which the twine is caught, are turned so as to cause the twine to project from the point over the lug 24 in proper position to pass between the jaws of the knotter when tying the next gavel. The continued movement of the needle will now draw the twine against the cutting-edge 54 of the knife 54' and thus sever it between the needle-point and the knot,

leaving the end of the twine attached to the com plete revolution, thereby causing one complete oscillation of the needle, the teeth upon the raised annulus 42 (corresponding 111 number to the teeth on the pinion) "111 have passed the said pinion, and the blank 86 upon the latter will rest against the smooth face of the annulus 42 during the remainder of the revolution of the gear-wheel 34. Thus the rotation of the pinion 86 will stop. By the time the teeth have passed the pinion 86 the blank 47 on the periphery of the annulus 42will have passed the blank 46 on the pinion 44, and the teeth 43 upon the said annulus will engage the teeth on the said pinion and rotate the same, causingit and the crankshaft 45 to complete their revolution. WVhen the said crank-shaft 45 begins the last half of its revolution, the needle-bar, which has been at its lowest point, will begin to ascend; but the knotter-bar will continue to rise for ashort distance, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This willcarrythe knotter-bar a little above the needle and cause the loop of the twine p to come off of the stud 24, and will also allow the needle-point carrying the end of the twine to pass upward below or behind the knotter, thus placing the twine around the said knotter, as at 19 in position for tying the next gavel. As the needle-bar rises the fingers 99 fall away from the sheaf and the compressor 107 moves upward and backward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus leaving room for the sheaf to pass downward into the opening 'in the frame of the machine. At the time that the needle-bar begins to rise the front edge of the cam 42 in the annulus 42 will engage the lower bent end n of the rod n and carry it downwardly to depress the dischargearms 25, as hereinbefore described, and the said discharge-arms will press upon the upper side of the sheaf as it leaves the knotter-bar, forcing the sheaf downward and pulling upon the end of the twine which is held in the jaws of the knotter, thus drawing the knot tight, and finally pulling the twine from the knotter and discharging the sheaf through the opening 130 in the frame of the machine. When this is accomplished, the bent end a of therod n will slip off of the cam 42 and the spring 114 will return the discharge-arms 25 to their normal position, and the gear-wheel 34 will continue to rotate until it has completed one revolution and returned the binding mechanism to its normal position, when the pin 124 on the said wheel 34 will strike the bevel side 123 of the hook 123 upon the end of the rod 122, causing the said rod to bend laterally away from the wheel 34-far enough to allow the said pin to pass into the loop 123, after which the rod will spring back into its normal position and hold the pin within the hook, as shown in Fig. 7. At the time the pin 124 enters the hook 123 the blank space 41 in the teeth of the wheel 34 will arrive opposite to the pinion 39. Thus the said pinion will cease to rotate the wheel 34 and the latter will beheld from further movement by the rod 122, as will be readily understood.

It will be understood that I do not. wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction herein described, as I am aware that many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grain-binder, an oscillating needlebar and a needle pivoted upon said needle-bar, in combination with an oscillating knotterbar and a knotter suitably mounted upon said knotter-bar and arranged to act in conjunction with the said needle to tie a knot in the twine, substantially as described.

2. In a grain-binder, a knotter consisting of a shell, jaws pivoted to the open end of said shell, a spring or its equivalent arranged to press the said jaws together, a lever pivoted between the jaws and projecting therefrom, and rollers upon the said lever arranged to act upon the jaws to open the latter to re ceive the twine whenthe lever is operated, the said jaws being adapted to receive and hold the twine, substantially as described.

3. In a grain-binder, a knotter consisting of a shell, jaws pivoted in the open end of the said shell, a lever pivoted between said jaws and arranged to open them to receive the twine, a spring arranged to close the jaws upon the twine to hold the latter, a shaft 98, journaled in suitable bearingaupon which the knotter is mounted, a locking device upon the said shaft arranged to lock the knotter in its normal position, and spur-teeth 71. upon the said shaft, in combination with mechanism for operating said knotter, substantially said shell, a lever pivoted between said jaws and arranged to open them to receive the twine, a spring arranged to close the jaws upon the twine to hold the latter, a shaft 98, upon which the knotter is rigidly mounted, a knotter-bar in which the said shaft is journaled, a locking device upon the shaft 98 to lock the said shaft in its normal position upon the knotter-bar, and spur-teeth h upon said shaft 98, adapted to be engaged by similar teeth upon the needle to turn the shaft 98 and the knotter in its journal-bearings, in combination with a needle arranged to operate the knotter, substantially as described.

' 5. In a grain-binder, a knot-ter consisting of a shell, jaws pivoted in the open end of the said shell, a lever pivoted between said jaws and arranged to open them to receive the twine, a spring arranged to close the jaws upon the twine to hold the latter, a shaft 98, upon which the knotter is rigidly mounted, a knotter-bar in which the said shaft is journaled, means for turning the shaft 98 in its journal-bearings and for locking the said shaftin its normal position, a spring 7t, arranged to strip the loop of twine off of the knotter, and studs k upon the knotter to assist the said spring in its function, in combination with means for operating the said knotter, substantially as described.

,6. In a grainbinder, a knotter consisting of a shell, jaws pivoted in the open end of the said shell, a lever pivoted between said jaws and arranged to open them to receive the twine, a spring arranged to close the jaws upon the twine to hold the latter, a shaft 98, upon which the knotter is'rigidly mounted, a knotter-bar in which the said shaft is journaled, spur-teeth h upon the shaft 98, a looking device upon the said shaft, means for strippin g theloop of twine from the knotter, a guard 54 arranged upon the knotter-bar, and a knife pivoted upon the guard 54 to cut the twine at the proper time, in combination with a needle arranged to enter the said guard, operate the locking device, engage the spurteeth 7t to turn the shaft 98 and the knotter, place the end of the twine in the jaws of the said knotter, and operate in conjunction therewith to tie the knot,substant-ially as described.

7. In a grain-binder, a needle, a recess in the end of said needle, and a spiral groove formed within the said recess, in combination with a point 94, having a shank 95 to reciprocate in the said recess, a pin 95", arranged through the inner end of the said shank to travel in the said spiral groove and impart rotary motion to the point 94, and a spring 96, arranged upon the shank 95 to draw the said shank within the said recess and press the point 94 against the end of the needle, said point being provided with teeth 94" to hold the end of the twine, substantially as described.

8. In a grain-binder, a needle-bar, a needle pivoted upon said needle-bar, a point having a shank arranged to slide within the end of said needle, and aspring to keep the said point normally pressed against the end of said needle to hold the end of the twine, in combination with a knotter journaled in a knotterbar and arranged to be operated by the said needle to act in conjunction therewithto tie a knot in the twine, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a grain-binder, a needle-bar, a needle pivoted upon said needle-bar,a point having a shank arranged to slide within the end of said needle, a spring to keep the said point normally pressed against the end of said needle to hold the end of the twine, teeth 24 and 24 upon one side of the needle, and a stud 24 upon the opposite side thereof, in combi nation with a knotter j ournaled in a knotter- IIO bar, said knotter having teeth h with which the teeth upon the needle are adapted to engage to operate the knotter, which will operate in conjunction with the needle to tie the knot in the twine, and a knife pivoted upon the knotter-bar to cut the twine after the knot has been tied, the stud 24 on the needle operating to take up the slack in the twine and draw the knot tight, substantially as described.

10. In a grain-binder, a gear-wheel having bevel-teeth upon one side thereof, said teeth having a blank space 41 left therein, a bevelpinion 39, meshing with the said teeth, a stud upon one side of the gear-wheel, a rod 122, arranged to engage'the stud and hold the said wheel from motion at the proper time, an annulus-42 upon the opposite side of the said gear-wheel, and spurteeth 43, extending partly around the said annulus, in combination with a toothed pinion 44, arranged to mesh with the teeth 43 and provided with a blank space 46, and a crank-shaft 45, upon which the pinion 44 is rigidly mounted, the 'said crank-shaft having two cranks, one of which is connected to'the shaft carrying the needle-bar andthe other is connected to the shaft carrying the knotter-bar to oscillate the ne'e'dlebar and knotter-bar when the gearwheel 34 is rotated, substantially as described.

11. In a grain-binder, the combination, with the platform to receive the cut grain and a reciprocating conveyer arranged to operate in said platform at the proper time to convey the grain uponthe-knotter-bar, of mechanism operated by the conveyer to first throw into gear thebinding mechanism andthen the mechanism for reversingvthe movement of the said conveyer, substantially as described.

12. Inagrain-binder, the combination, with thezplatform to receive the cut grain, and a reciprocating conveyer arranged to operate in said platform atthe proper time to convey the grain upon the knotter-bar, of mechanism operated by the conveyer to first throw into gear the binding mechanism and then the mechanism for reversing the movement of said conveyor, and when the conveyer has returned to its normal position mechanism operated thereby to throw the said conveyerout of gear and-so stop the movement thereof, substantially as described.

13. In a grain-binder, the combination of the platform to receive the cut grain, a-reciprocatin g conveyer arranged to operate in said platform at the proper time to convey the grain upon the knotter-bar, a lever 119, operated by said conveyer, a board hinged upon the plat-form and adapted to be moved by the lever 119 against the butts of the grain to 'make them even, and a rod connected to the said'board 116 and arranged to throw the binding mechanism into gear when the said board is operated, substantially as described.

14. In a grain-binder, the frame of the machine, a shaft 35, journaled in the frame and arranged to be driven from the driving mechani'sm of the machine, gear-wheelsmounted upon the shaft, shaft to drive the conveyer and reel, and-a gear-wheel 39, also mounted upon said shaft, arranged to drive the gearwheel 34, in combination with the gear-wheel 34, having teeth to mesh with the gear-wheel 39, an annulus provided with two sets of teeth 43 and 85, a pinion 44, arranged to mesh with the teeth 43, a crank-shaft 45, journaled in the said frame, upon which the said gear-wheel 44 is mounted, said crank-shaft 45 having cranks connected'to the needle-bar and knot ter-bar to oscillate the same, and a pinion 86, arranged to mesh with the teeth and connected by a shaft and suitable connections to the needle to operate the same,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. I11 a grain-binder, a gear-wheel 34, arranged to be driven at the proper times by the driving mechanism and havinga-set of teeth 85, in combination with a pinion 86, adapted to mesh with theteeth 85, mounted upon a crank-shaft 87, a crank-shaft 9l, journaled upon the needle-bar and connectedwith the crank of theshaft 87, andtheneedle pivoted uponthe needle-bar and connected with the crank-shaft 91, arranged to oscillate :by the said connection when the pinion-86is rotated, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. Ina grain-binder, an oscillating needlebar and compressor-fingers pivoted in-the frame of the machine'and suitably connected to the said needle-bar tobe operated thereby,in combination with aknotter-bar arranged to approach the said needle-bar and act in conjunction with it and the compressor-fingers to compress a gavel of grain, and means-for operating the said needle-bar and 'knotterbar, substantially as described,

17. In a grain-binder, a gear-wheel 34, having teeth upon one side by which it may be driven from the driving mechanism of the machine, anannulus42 upon the other side of the said gear-wheel, and a cam 42 within the saidannulus, in combination with discharge-arms 25, mounted upona shaft 20, a lever N upon the shaft 20, a-rod n depending from one end of the said leverandhaving its lower end bent to lie in the path of the cam 42, and a spring or its equivalent 114, attached to the lever N to return thesaid lever to its normal position, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. In a grain-binder, a gear-wheel34,having bevel-teeth upon one side thereof, a bevelpinion 39, driven from thedriving mechanism of the machine and meshingwith the bevelteeth upon the wheel 34 to drive the latter, a blank space 41 in the teeth of the gearwheel 34, in which the pinion 39 can revolvewithout imparting motion to the said gear-wheel, the latter being connected to the binding mechanism, and a pin 124 upon the saidgean wheel, in combination with a rod 122, having a hook 123 to engage the said pin 124 and hold the gear-wheel from motion, said rod being connected to the operating parts of the machine so as to pull upon the said pin and so turn the gear-wheel into gear with the driving mechanism to start the binding mechanism at the proper time, substantially as described.

19. In a grain-binder, the platform to receive the cut grain and a reciprocating conveyor arranged to operate in the said platform, in combination with the mechanism for reversing the movement of the said conveyer, consisting of the shaft 67, having a bevel-pinion at its lower end in gear with the conveyer and a bevel-pinion at its upper end adapted to be thrown ingear with the driving mechanism, the shaft 67 being mounted in pivoted In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE SOHUBER'I.

\Vitnesses:

C. N. PARKI-IURST, G. W. T. HALL. 

